Prensalibresur

Mammen and Williams for School Board

2010-08-09T23:08:00.000-07:00

Many people have asked me in the past few weeks how they can support my race for Minneapolis School Board during the August 10th primary. Well I don't have a primary. I'm running in the newly created 5th school board district, which covers the south eastern corner of the city, and I have only one opponent, which means we will not be in tomorrows ballot. Neither will be the candidates from the 1st and 3rd district.

So I tell people if they want to support me tomorrow to vote for Richard Mammen and T Willians for the two at large seats up for election. This year the school board is growing from 7 at large board seats to 8 seats, five of them at large and three from districts on the Eastern side of the city. Two of the 5 at large seats are up for re-election and three of the four incumbents up for re-election decided not to run. In two years three more district seats on the western side of the city will be up for election and one at large seat, when the board grows to 9 seats, six of them district and three at large. Confusing? You betcha. Makes for great conversation during door knocking.

Bottom line is that we will have on January 2011 only one other board member, Lydia Lee, that will have been on the board for more than two years. T Williams would be a second.

MPS has gone through a lot of turmoil in the past few years. But the current board has done much heavy lifting and finally brought some stability to the district. MPS now has a new Superintendent, a strategic plan that is in the middle of implementation, and enrollment seems to be finally stabilizing after steep drops in the past decade.

More than ever MPS needs some continuity. We need T Williams institutional knowledge, his wisdom, his sound intellect and his tireless commitment to provide an adequate education to ALL Minneapolis Kids. He deserves to be re-elected. We need Richard Mammen's extensive experience on youth issues, his strong commitment to equity and his extensive knowledge on how to deal with complex bureaucracies.

Mammen and Williams share my sense of urgency for Minneapolis kids. The three of us understand that the next board needs to be the results board and that we can dramatically improve achievement, improve communication with our stakeholders, bring stability to the district, and improve the relationship between the MPS administration and our front line staff as quickly as possible.

The three of us know that MPS needs results fast. Chanda Smith Baker, Mohamud Noor and Rebecca Gagnon would make excellent school board members. And Hussein Samatar and Jenny Arneson will make great school board members from districts 3 and 1.

But tomorrow I'm voting for Richard Mammen and T Williams for at large seats.

Why voting for MAK so important

2010-08-09T20:56:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately not enough people are probably paying attention, but tomorrow's August 10Th primary will signal an important turning point for the future of Minnesota. That's why I'm voting for Margaret Anderson Kelliher for governor.

I strongly believe that MAK has the best chance to beat Tom Emmer. Never thought that Minnesota Republicans could come up with a more anti-immigrant governor than Tim "let's take away citizenship from children born in the US" Pawlenty. But Tom Emmer thinks that the Arizona SB 1070 law is a good start, and that we should turn local police into immigration agents. He also happens to think that somehow gay marriage will somehow threaten everyone elses marriage and that the minimum wage for restaurant servers is too high. I've had it with Pawlenty-Emmer intolerance and their out of touch extremist agenda.

I spent some time interviewing MAK on my radio show and visiting Latino owned businesses on Lake Street with her. I've met a lot of politicians in the past who felt uncomfortable with immigrant issues or awkward in the company of Latinos. Margaret is not one of them. She relates well with Latinos, looks comfortable in our company and when confronted with issues important to Latinos such as immigration, education and jobs, she does not hesitate or look confused.

Margaret as governor will be a leader nationally for comprehensive immigration reform, she will veto Arizona type laws, she will fight to adequately fund public education instead of Pawlenty's policy of using schools as a line of credit. She is the most credible DFL candidate on balancing the budget and creating jobs. And she is the most electable.

Yes I will support Entenza and Dayton if they win. Better than Emmer. And Horner doesn't seem to have a chance. But I've talked to enough immigration lawyers concerned about Daytons immigration positions as a US Senator to hesitate. Also concerned that Dayton didn't seem to think reaching out to Latinos was important during the primary race. Both MAK and Entenza reached out to Latinos in the past few months but Dayton was nowhere to bee seen on Lake Street or the Wes Side of St Paul. And Republicans will have a field day with Daytons controversial past.

Entenza would be good on immigration. He has done an OK job reaching out to Latinos. But his obsession with having the state opt out of No Child left Behind seems irresponsible. It would deny Minnesota of tens if millions of much needed dollars that our schools desperately need. I dislike NCLB as much as he does and would drastically reform it, but opting out? No.

I'll support whoever DFL'ers vote for tomorrow. Even Dayton. Eventually. But would much rather like to vote for MAK on November 2nd.

Anti-Immigrant Anti-American Hysteria

2010-08-04T13:45:00.000-07:00

I've been recently saddened by the overwhelming amount of attention that mainstream media is paying to anti-immigrant hysteria coming from a right wing minority. Anti-immigrant hysteria that goes against some of the most fundamental values of inclusion that our nation has always fought for. Most Americans support immigrants, and believe in comprehensive immigration reform. But you wouldn't guess this looking at all the recent mainstream media coverage.

I'm also saddened that the Republican Party has been hijacked by right wing extremists that hate immigrants. Yes. Hate immigrants. Most Americans that oppose comprehensive immigration reform or favor SB 1070 Arizona type laws, are not anti-immigrant or racist. They mostly have national and economic security and public safety concerns. They are misinformed, since comprehensive immigration reform would improve national and economic security and have very little impact, if any, on the public safety of most Americans (it would of course improve the public safety of many undocumented immigrants). But most Americans are not racist or anti-immigrant.

But lets not fool ourselves. English only, Arizona SB 1070 laws are often written and facts to back those laws are often provided by anti-immigrant racist groups. We saw this in Arizona and we also saw this in Lino Lakes, when we discovered who was behind writing and funding SB 1070and Lino Lakes English only laws. We then saw gutless, clueless mostly Republican public officials that are not necessarily racist or anti-immigrant, go against traditional conservative libertarian philosophy and advocate for these laws.

Why do they do this? Because Republicans lost during the Bush Presidency the trust of most Americans after almost bankrupting our country with misguided and very damaging economic, fiscal and foreign policy. They once again feel that the only way they have of re-gaining power is to blame Obama for economic problems caused by an incompetent Bush Presidency and the congress that enabled it, by providing false facts about immigrants to brainwash those in the political middle, and by catering to a small but highly active and motivated anti-immigrant fringe. They will also provide misinformation to scare people in the political middle and the right wing fringe into believing that gay marriage will somehow destroy their families.

Yes this strategy will destroy the future of the Republican party. Generation X and Y, GLBT, Latino and African American voters will reject for decades to come what they see as outdated and immoral political rhetoric. But the Republican Party seems so desperate to win short term elections that they will risk it all. Several younger Republican strategists over the past years have told me repeatedly: "We don't believe in this anti-gay, anti-immigrant rhetoric. It goes against our conservative-libertarian values. But we've got to use it to win".

So once more Latinos, the GLBT community and the 5Th of the US population that is currently either unemployed, underemployed and who's pay or benefits have been cut in this recession will once more be victimized by irresponsible Republican campaigns. Once more Republicans will win some seats in the short term.

More than ever we need voters to punish Republicans catering to short sighted policies. More than ever we must praise conservatives that reject the politics of fear. Democrats are not off the hook. They need to be brave and stand for their convictions. They need to present a clear vision of job creation, hope, inclusiveness and a bright future to counter the rhetoric of fear, negativity, division the worst of our past.

We can no longer stay on the sidelines. We need to act NOW to save our nation by sending a clear message that Anti-Immigrant, Anti-American rhetoric will be soundly defeated.

Law enforcement anti-piracy operation confused by some for immigration raid

2009-12-10T14:28:00.000-08:00

There was an anti-piracy law enforcement operation this afternoon in Minneapolis by federal customs agents. We sent La Prensa de Minnesota reporters to the scene at a mall on Lake Street and fourth Avenue in South Minneapolis after getting flooded with calls at our LCN media offices from people worried that there was an immigration raid going on.

We later confirmed that there was no immigration raid. This customs (part of ICE) law enforcement operation was looking for pirated products apparently being sold at businesses located at the Lake Street mall. This operation was part of a larger investigation and there probably be more law enforcement operations of this type, before it's over.

Our reporters did see a woman in handcuffs, when they went to the location of the operation. We got confirmation from a spokesman for ICE that this was a customs anti-piracy operation and that they had no immigration related purpose for the operation. We also got confirmation that 6 women and 4 men, that were working at the businesses where pirated products were allegedly being sold, were detained. No confirmation on whether they were employees or business owners. The people detained apparently are suspected of be undocumented, and may face immigration procedures.

We had Rigo Castro, our on air personality, explain on the air at our radio station La Invasora that this is NOT an immigration raid, that the operation at Plaza Lake is over, and that it's safe to go back to this location.

We need to remind people in our community to be careful when spreading rumors about immigration raids. Ninety five percent of calls we get about immigration raids in Minnesota, turn out to be false. Many were confused when they saw ICE in the back of jackets worn by the federal agents involved with the anti-piracy operation.

The truth is ICE has other areas of law enforcement they are involved with, including piracy and human trafficking among others. Rumors like this can send unnecessary panic to the community, as these rumors appear to be spread like wild fire. Please remember that there were several very small Latino owned business, barely surviving this recession, and that were not related to the piracy operation, that were seriously hurt today because of the panic this news is causing. Let's be sensitive to them. Apparently nobody that was not related to the piracy investigation was at risk.

I'll keep folks informed as things develop, and we'll have something in La Prensa this week and on the radio station La Invasora 1400 1470 as things develop.

2009-11-20T09:43:00.000-08:00

Interesting CID/Gallup poll in showing the popularity numbers for 20 Presidents in the Americas http://bit.ly/5bMgpG in November 2009. I did a quick analysis and divided the 20 Presidents in three groups. There might some controversy on which president is in which category, but I think I'm at least pretty close.

One category is Center right Presidents. I have the Presidents of Mexico, Colombia, Panama, Honduras and Canada in that category. Then I have the Center left category where I have El Salvador, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, USA, Dominican Republic, Peru, Guatemala, Costa Rica. Last the Bolivariano or Left category where I have Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Argentina. There might be some controversy on Argentina, but they have demonstrated to be one of Chavez strongest allies.

Interesting conclusion: Center right parties have an average popularity approval rating of 53.4%. Center Left 59.3% and the Bolivarianos 39.4%.

It seems that the center left is not only emerging as the ideology of choice in the Americas, with ten countries, but also the most popular. It also seems that the Center left countries (with the Exception of USA) are also having the most economic growth in the Americas. It is also apparent that the Chavez block is not very popular.

Caveats: Funes in El Salvador and Martinelli in Panama were just recently elected and haven't had much to be judged on. Yes Michelleti is not the legitimate President of Honduras, but he is running the country. Note: The last poll I saw for Zelaya, by the same polling company had Zelaya at 46%. He woul've been in the Bolivariano category.

In these times where Democracy in Latin America is historically at it's strongest, with the rare Honduras exception, has Latin America finally found it's ideological way?

New American Media editorial published by hundreds of ethnic media across the country this week

2009-07-06T22:52:00.000-07:00

Link to La Prensa de Minnesota moving editorial on the need for comprehensive immigration reform, produced in association with New American Media.

Editor’s Note: This editorial was produced in association with New America Media (http//www.newamericamedia.org), a national association of ethnic media, and was published by ethnic media across the country this week to bring attention to the urgency of immigration reform.

http//www.laprensademn.com/news.php?nid=1830 in English

http://www.laprensademn.com/news.php?nid=1803 en Espanol.

I also read the editorial in my talk show Cara a Cara and received very emotional responses in calls to the show.

Cara a Cara program tomorrow 2pm CST and thoughts about Honduras

2009-07-01T16:34:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow we'll have a special program for Cara a Cara. We will have Juan Vazquez, CEO of http://www.lacochera.net/ as our guest, and we will discuss the election of Senator elect Al Franken, now that the Minnesota Supreme court ruled in his favor. Will Democrats now have the 60 votes necessary to pass comprehensive immigration reform? Latinos voted in record numbers for Obama and Democrats. We are told that there are not enough votes to pass comprehensive immigration reform in congress yet. What would be the excuse for Democrats this time? Not enough votes for Health Care reform or Immigration refrom? What are they there for then?

We will also discuss the military cue situation in Honduras. Who is right here? Why is Latin America once more at the brink of war and why is Hugo Chavez behind the incident again? (remember the Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuala incident over the Colombian armed forces crossing into Ecuadorian territory while chasing FARC terrorists?) Program will be in Minnesota La Invasora AM 1400 and 1470 and http://www.lainvasora1400.com/ at 2pm CST.

Some thoughts on Honduras. President Zelaya put himself above the law, the constitution, the electoral court, the Supreme court, congress and his own party. But who wins here? Alavaro Vargas Llosa a center right political analyst recently said in an opinion piece in the New York Times http://http//bit.ly/zNvea that the winner is Hugo Chavez.

Chavez, with his imperialist dreams for Latin America, somehow convinced Mel Zelaya, a wealthy Honduran Oligarch, who was elected four years ago as a right of center candidate, to join the Bolivarian socialist revolution. All the sudden out of the blue Zelaya became a socialist. And signed a deal with generous oil subsidies for Honduras.

Zelaya is unpopular as is Chavez in Honduras. His term was almost over and the Honduran constitution only allows for one term as president. He then decided to have a non binding referendum to ask Hondurans what they would think about changing the constitution to allow his reelection, and also make changes top the constitution to make it more Bolivarian (and acceptable to Chavez).

The electoral court, the Supreme court and the congress all declared the referendum illegal, based on it violating procedures to amend the constitution. Zalaya decided to ignore the other branches of government and hold the referendum. He ordered the military to prepare the polling places. The military refused to disobey congress and the Supreme Court. Zelaya then fired the Defense Minister. The Supreme court declared the firing illegal.

What should've happened then, is that Zelaya should been prosecuted in the courts for breaking the law, and then if found guilty, given the appropriate punishment. He was unpopular and probably would've had to finish his term at the end of 2009.

Instead Roberto Micheletti the new "President" because he was next in the line of succession, the Honduran military and their supporters fell into Zelayas trap. They military fell into the old habit of conducting a military cue, exiling Zelaya to Costa Rica, and then making Micheletti President. They then started to repress the media, protests, sometimes violently and isolating themselves internationally. Every country in the Hemisphere including the US, and in Europe and the UN have all declared the Cue illegal. Obama correctly and skillfully opposed the cue, which put a dent in the often Chavez conspiracy theory that the CIA is behind everything.

Now Zelaya is an international hero. If the military continues to repress it's people, Zelaya will be a local hero too. And Chavez gets one more satellite for his growing empire.

The military in Honduras was duped and they fell for it. Micheletti should resign as soon as possible, Zelaya should then be allowed to return as President and given the opportunity to step down when his term is over, or change the constitution by legal means, or be prosecuted for breaking the law.

But it might be too late. Latin America is slowly marching back into it's old horrible warmonger days. The old extreme ways of the left and right, once more put the great majority in the middle at great risk.

Minneapolis School District Latino parents frustrated with district policy

2009-06-29T23:09:00.000-07:00

Enclosed is a post I made to the E-Democracy Minneapolis Issues email list today. It has been adapted slightly. The issues are local, but they are relevant in Many urban school districts today.

I know that both sides, the Minneapolis School district and Latino parents, have some very good points, and both sides are lead by very good people. I'm friends with people on both sides. But there still seems to be a lack of understanding of why Latino parents are so frustrated with the Minneapolis School District (MPS) , and how frustrated they are, to the point that they will leave the district at the same rate that African American parents did before, unless something changes soon.

Of course we all know how devastating to MPS loosing more students could be. More cuts, more layoffs, more closed schools. Most board members, if not all, are trying very hard to understand this frustration, and I think are trying to address the issues presented by Latino parents. But unfortunately they don't seem to be able to get through to the parents. On the other hand I think some Latino parents don't have all the information (we'll attempt in La Prensa de Minnesota soon to provide that info in Spanish) and they might've been provided some misinformation.

I've talked to and LISTENED to enough public officials to understand that it's not the same to be a school or education activist than to govern. Once you govern you have the responsibility of doing the right thing, while having to listen to many different and conflicting special interests, and you have the obligation to balance budgets. That's not easy.

Although I tend to agree with Caty's sentiment that we should all work to a solution to our schools that benefits all kids instead of each single group, the reality is that there are some issues that only affect some groups and not others. We all want a better economy, an affordable and quality health care system, we want to own our homes, and we want our kids to get an adequate education so that they will have a better life than ours. Those are universal.

But most African American, Latino, Native and Asian people know what it's like to be treated as inferiors because of the color of their skin, and are going to be more sensitive to this issue. Immigrants struggle with learning English at exactly the same rate as Scandinavian and Eastern European immigrants to Minnesota did at the beginning of the twentieth century. Latino parents will push for programs that will teach their kids English, because they are more affected by this. Other kids in MPS don't have this challenge.

After LISTENING, to Burroughs parents, I think this is how many of them think: Contrary to what the KKK whining ranters in the Star Tribune comments section say, Latino parents desperately want their kids to learn English as quickly as possible so they have a real chance at the American dream. These immigrant parents are much more American in spirit than the anonymous Star Tribune cowards. They have risked it all, some of them their lives, to give their kids a better life in the US. That's true love for America. They work too many hours and don't have the time to learn English adequately, like Swedish and German immigrants did before them, but will do anything to see their
kids learn English.

Some found what they needed in Burroughs. You know how hard it was for them to find Burroughs? How much they risked to find it? But they did, and know they feel it's being taken away. That's the way some white parents at Burroughs feel. They didn't risk as much to get there, but they found the right school for their kids. And now they feel that's being taken away. Anybody would be frustrated beyond belief over this.

Senator Patricia Torres Ray eloquently stated in a recent letter: "Latino parents are opposed to this change, arguing that the district is creating ghettos by assigning all ELL kids to the 4 worst schools in the district" I have to say I have to agree with that statement. What parent would feel good about that?

But here's the other side of the story. A district that's lost too many kids and had to lay off too many teachers. A district that has made a true commitment to provide all of their kids a better education. Too many parents and kids at MPS schools don't have the type of school that Burroughs is. Too many kids and parents have had their schools closed. Too many parents and kids don't feel safe in their MPS school. Too many kids are two years behind in reading and math. Too many kids are not graduating from High School. And it's just about everybody's fault at MPS: Parents, teachers, principals, administrators, board members, voters, even if they all point fingers at each other.

But MPS is finally doing something about it. The reality is that all the kids currently enrolled at Burroughs Native Language Program (can some one explain this name to me? I think kids are learning English not native languages, but I digress) will continue in the program until they move on to middle school. Also the demand for the program is going down every year at Burrows. Why?

I just got a letter form MPS board member Chris Stewart that said: "In the 2007-2008 school year only 15 Latino families selected the program, while a minimum of 26 are
needed. For 2008-2009 there were 10 Latino families that selected NLL at Burroughs. When eight of them were contacted only two opted to remain at Burroughs while six chose Windom." If this is true, what are we arguing about here?

It also seems that a number of African American parents that live close to Burroughs want the programs offered at Burroughs. Shoudn't they have a right to choose what's best for their kids too?

MPS needs to do more and more, with less and less money. Tough to do. I don't have too many answers here, but I hope I presented both sides. I will continue to listen. I hope both MPS and Latino parents will truly listen to each other. Because all of our kids educations in Minneapolis are at stake
here.

I also wanted to address Jay Clark's comment about Chris Stewart not being at the meeting. Jay is a good guy, who has worked tirelessly to help the Latino community. And I thank him for that. But his implying that only Tom Madden, Pam Costain, Lydia Lee, and Carla Bates, Patricia Torres Ray and Senator Linda Berglin where at the meeting, so they care but Chris Stewart doesn't care because he wasn't there, is simply not true. I recently disagreed with Chris on this forum, over the way he seemed to have approached this issue and about integration.

But I know Chris well enough to know he does care about the Latino community and has been a strong defender of the NLL program. We might disagree on how to get there. But Chris is one of the hardest workers on the MPS board and contrary to his occational media image, he spends almost all his board time, quietly and effectively working to improve education for all kids. I think that attempts by some to divide Latinos and African Americans to get whatever their goals are for MPS is not going to work. We have the same problems. Low test scores and low graduation rates. The only difference is some Latino kids need a little bit more help learning English.

Interview with Alberto Monserrate about the Recession in Minneapolis

2009-06-29T13:34:00.000-07:00

Here's an interview I gave last April some of you might find Interesting.

http://www.examiner.com/x-5611-Minneapolis-Tech-Culture-Examiner~y2009m4d27-Interview-with-Alberto-Monserrate-about-the-Recession-in-Minneapolis

Ok I have to talk about Michael Jackson too

2009-06-26T19:56:00.000-07:00

Amazing the reaction to Michael Jackson's death in Latino community in US and Latin America. Univision TV network non stop shows on Michael Jackson. Talk about how he was accepted by Latinos as well as any Latino artist. Lots of talk in main stream media about Jacksons cross over to white audiences, but his cross over to Latino market amazing too. Our radio station, Minneapolis La Invasora 1400 1470, lots of talk about El Rey de Pop.

I anticipate it will get a lot of coverage in our newspaper La Prensa de Minnesota and our weekly magazine Vida y Sabor.

I was not the bigguest fan, but have good memories from the eighties from parties with his music.

Update on Cara a Cara Show on Gay pride

2009-06-26T19:43:00.001-07:00

An update form the Cara a Cara talk show yesterday on Gay pride. I promised an update on the calls to the show. Amazingly we had 100% calls supportive of gay rights and gay marriage. One very moving call from the mom of a a teenage boy who's gay, asking for acceptance, and compassion from the community for gay teenagers. Things have changed. I can't imagine what the reaction to the show would've been five years ago.

My guests Juan Carlos Alanis Publisher of newspaper La Prensa de Minnesota and Mario Villega an AIDS and STD health activist gave us a lot of insight on what it's like to be a Latino gay man in Minnesota. When I asked Mario what was the main issue in the Minnesota Latino gay community, I was told that immigration issues and AIDS were the issues he heard people concerned about.

Will go to Minneapolis Gay Pride parade on Sunday, when there will be stonger than ever participation in the parade from the Minnesota Latino gay community.

Podcast of the show will be posted soon in www.lainvasora1400.com. Sorry only Spanish version.

Latino Gay Pride: The untold story about Latino tolerance

2009-06-25T00:18:00.000-07:00

Today I will be talking in my radio talk show Cara a Cara (in Minnesota AM 1400 1470 and lainvasora1400.com) at 2pm CST about gay pride in the Minnesota Latino community and gay marriage. It will be interesting to hear what our on air calls will be like.

There has been lots of discussion about how the last gay marriage referendum in California was voted down by Latino and African American voters. It's assumed that Latinos and African Americans are homophobic and that they're not ready to support gay marriage.

Republicans in 2004 banked their Latino voter strategy on getting out the vote of Latino evangelical voters. Many Latino evangelical churches preached that George Bush was against gay marriage and against abortion and that Democrats basically would kill babies and destroy the sanctity of marriage. This was a successful strategy then, and it got George Bush enough Latino voters to win reelection.

The Anti-abortion anti gay marriage strategy did not work with Latino voters in 2008. It was all about the economy and comprehensive immigration reform. Latinos were not thinking much about wedge issues in 2008. They were part of the winning majority for Obama.

But something else is happening in the Latino community. Latinos are becoming more tolerant of homosexuality, gay rights and may soon be ready to support gay marriage not only in the US, but in Latin America.

A friend of mine who is a Latino Leader in Minneapolis, and openly gay, recently talked to me about his recent visit to Monterrey, Mexico and to Mexico City. He left Mexico in the 90's when he was still in the closet. He spent years in Mexico trying to first deny to himself that he was gay, and then spending years in the closet, afraid that anybody would find of his visits to underground gay bars in conservative Monterrey. He then decided to move to the US, Partly looking for better economic opportunities, as most immigrants, but also partly looking to free himself from Mexican intolerance.

In his recent visit to Monterrey and Mexico City he saw a different Mexico. He saw that gay bars were no longer underground, There was a lot more of them, and they were bigger. Now gay bars were also visited by heterosexual couples. He was able to visit friends and relatives with his partner openly, without having to hide their relationship. His mom and relatives completely accepted his partner.

My friend also told me of his openly lesbian friend who works as a Mexican diplomat. She recently laughed over a question she was asked in Minnesota, about how she hid her lesbian partner in order to keep her diplomatic job. She said that she felt more comfortable being open in Mexico City now than she did in Minnesota. She doesn't hide her relationsip anymore in Mexico.

In Peru many gay men used to stay in the closet, marry women, have children, and spend their lives expressing their sexuality in underground gay bars. They risked being attacked or even killed if discovered leaving one of those bars. Now Lima Peru is filled of gay bars that are no longer underground. My Peruvian, Puertorican, Mexican and US Latino gay friends openly talk about their sexuality in Fecebook in front of hundreds of heterosexual friends and family without any hint of fear.

About 5 years ago our weekly magazine magazine Vida y Sabor published our first ever story dedicated to gay pride. Our readers are mainly working class immigrant Latinos. We got many furious calls and letters. There was talk about picket lines and boycotts. But there were also many Latino business people that were in the closet or that secretly supported gay rights that supported us and increased their advertising with us.

This week we published another gay pride edition. Not a single call of protest. No talk of boycotts. Just about every Latino GLBT person I know in Minnesota is now out of the closet. They invite their straight friends and family to their anniversary parties. Blue and white collar gay Latinos are now gaining more and more supporters for gay rights and marriage, because they are telling their heterosexual friends and families they are gay.

I was struck when I went to see the movie Milk, when Harvey Milk said that everybody who was gay would come out of the closet, and if they didn't they should be outed. I'm against people being involuntarily outed. But Harvey's point was that as more and more people found out that their relatives and friends were gay, more people would support BLBT rights. Latinos are very family oriented. As more and more Latinos come out of the closet their friends and family will become more tolerant of gay rights, and yes eventually gay marriage.

Cristina, the Oprah Winfrey of Spanish television in Univision recently had a show on Gay and Lesbian grandpas and grandmas. It was inspired by a gay grandpa character in a very popular Spanish soap opera. Gay grandpa in a Spanish Univision soap? Unheard of ten years ago.

I'm curious how the party of Senator Larry Craig, Senator John Ensign and Governor Mark Sanford will deal with the issue of the sanctity of marriage in 2010. But gay marriage is no longer the Republicans best hope to attract Latino voters.

Just imagine how powerful a stronger GLBT Latino political coalition would be in cities like Minneapolis, San Francisco, Los Angeles or New York. Both communities are suffering intolerance and political forces that use the communities as wedge issues. A Strong Latino and GLBT coalition would be a powerful force that could eventually legalize gay marriage and pass comprehensive immigration reform.

I will be talking today about gay marriage and gay pride in Spanish radio to Latino blue collar listeners. Unheard of five years ago. I'll let you know how it went.

Thank you!!!

2008-11-26T23:24:00.001-08:00

I know: The economy is tanking, many people around the world are suffering, our country is in war, and one more time pitiful terrorists murder more innocent people, this time in India. But today I want to share why I’m feeling thankful:

I’m thankful because even if my daughter has suffered from a very tough disease over the past few years, and my son lost three weeks from school because he also got sick, both have recovered very well and both feel better and better every day. They both showed how strong they are, and that they are people that can effectively confront adversity. Thank You.

Even if my wife and me have faced our challenges over the years as a couple, our relationship gets better and better every day, and I’m lucky to have a partner with whom I can share the most important things in life, we can laugh together and we can talk for hours and hours without noticing how much time has passed. Thank you.

Our Latino media business has suffered a lot in the past couple of years, after the real estate and auto industry crashes, immigration raids and increased enforcement, and the migration of newspaper readers online…. But as many business around us file bankruptcy, ours continues to survive. Even if we have less employees than we had a year ago, our employees continue to sacrifice every day, working hard so that the Latino community will receive the best information and entertainment in Spanish. Thank you.

Just two months ago a filled up my gas tank with $63. Today I filled it up with $27. That’s $150 more in my pocket a month. Thank you!

Yes we can! Yes we did!. Obama won. He won big. He was elected by African American and Latino voters. Democrats also won big. Obama started by naming one of the best cabinets of advisers we have seen. Anti-immigrant politics were a complete failure for Republicans. Thank You.

US Senate majority leader Harry Reid recently said: "On immigration, there's been an agreement between (President-elect Barack) Obama and (Arizona Republican Sen. John) McCain to move forward on that. ... We'll do that." The Senate Majority Leader went on say that he did not expect "much of a fight at all," and expressed his optimism about passing common sense immigration reform in the near future. Why is Reid so confident? It may have something to do with the failure of anti-immigrant politics at the ballot-box, and the growing power of the Latino and immigrant vote. Thank you.

The Minnesota weather…Better leave that one alone.

We have hope again. Thank you.

Si de Pudo!!!

2008-11-07T08:52:00.000-08:00

Si se Pudo!!!!

La Prensa de Minnesota November 7th, 2008

By Alberto Monserrate
alberto@lcnmedia.com

Since 2005 Latinos in the United States have endured increased immigration raids, failed attempts at comprehensive immigration reform, vicious rhetoric from anti-immigrant politicians and activists, the sub prime mortgage mess, the economic melt down and increased racist violent incidents against Latinos throughout the country. In 2006 we marched in the millions against anti-immigrant national and local policies. In 2008 we voted. The numbers are not completely in as of this article going to press, but it seems that Latinos accounted for 8% of about 130 million ballots cast. That means that over 10 million Latinos voted in the 2008 election. The percentage of Latino voters in 2004 was also about 8%, but total votes increased in 2008.

After years of insults and fear brought to our community, primarily by Republican politicians, we responded by giving over 66% of our vote to President-elect Barack Obama. Less than 32% of Latinos voted for John McCain, compared to over 40% that voted for George Bush in 2004. Latinos were key in electing Obama. Obama won by some 7 million votes nationally and Latinos provided at least 50 percent of that margin, while making just about 8% of voters. Latinos seemed to have played key roles in electing Obama in swing states like Florida, Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado and even some role in states like Ohio, Virginia, Indiana and North Carolina, all states that voted for George Bush in 2004.

What about Minnesota? The numbers for Latino voting in Minnesota are hard to find. But exit polls for Minnesota provided by CNN show that 3% of people who responded in Minnesota identified themselves as Latinos. This would mean that about 85,000 voters identified themselves as Latinos, the same number that identified themselves as African American.

The general consensus in the Minnesota Obama campaign was that in 2006 there were 48,000 Latinos eligible to vote and that only 22,000 were registered to vote. We don’t know how they arrived at those numbers, but in a state were we estimate about 250,000 Latinos, and where 60% of Latinos in the 2000 census were identified as US citizens those numbers always seemed small to us. They probably also did not account for the doubling of US citizenship applications that were processed in the US over the past year, and how motivated these new US citizens were to vote.

Regardless of how accurate Latino voter estimates are in Minnesota, there seems to have been a dramatic increase in Latino voters which should affect the future of Minnesota political campaigns. What effect did Latino voters have in Minnesota elections in 2008? Unfortunately CNN exit polls showed how many Minnesota voters identified themselves as Latinos, but not how they voted. Let’s assume Minnesota Latino voters voted the same as national Latinos. Minnesota Latino demographics are fairly similar than national demographics, with over 60 % identifying themselves as having Mexican origin. That would mean that about 29,000 more Latinos voted for Obama than for McCain in Minnesota which would account for 10% of the margin of victory for Obama in the State. Three percent of voters accounted for ten percent of the margin.

In the US Senate race Coleman was ahead of Franken by 708 votes, at the time La Prensa went to print, and a recount could give Franken the edge. Latinos might end up deciding that race. Reports say that there were irregularities in areas that would benefit Franken. Voting to kill comprehensive immigration reform last year and ignoring Latino voters, might cost Coleman the election. At the very least it could be argued that Franken would not even be in the race anymore if it wouldn’t have been for the Latino vote.

How did candidates endorsed by La Prensa de Minnesota do in 2008, and how did Latino voters affect the election? La Prensa endorsed Barack Obama and Al Franken, and we already commented on those elections. Keith Ellison was endorsed for the 5th congressional district race. Latinos were a factor in his 2006 election, but in 2008 Ellison won comfortably. Based on state exit polls, we estimate that there were probably about 10,000 Latino voters in the 5th district this year, and Ellison won by over 150,000 votes. In the 1st congressional district La Prensa endorsed Tim Walz and he won surprisingly by about 100,000 votes. We estimate there were some 11,000 Latino voters on the 1st.

In the Third congressional race La Prensa endorsed Ashwin Madia, who lost to Republican Erick Paulsen by about 27,000 votes. We estimate there were some 8,000 Latino voters in the 3rd. In the 6th congressional District El Tinklenberg was endorsed and he lost to Michelle Bachmann by about 11,000 votes. We estimate some 7,000 Latino voters in this district.

In Minneapolis La Prensa endorsed Carla Bates, Lydia Lee and Jill Davis for its school board and all three won. The margin between the winners and those who didn’t get elected was about 15,000 votes, more than the maybe 8,000-9,000 Latino voters we estimate in the city. La Prensa endorsed the referendum to increase property taxes to increase local funding for Minneapolis schools and it comfortably passed by close to 80,000 votes. We did not endorse changing how Minneapolis School Board members get elected, and it also passed, but by about 50,000 votes.

So Latinos contributed three times more to Obamas margin of victory than our percentage of the voting population in Minnesota. Al Franken still has a chance to win a recount thanks to Latino voters. And Latinos played less of a roll in congressional and city elections in 2008. But one thing is for sure. Pawlenty won by about 20,000 votes in 2006. The US Senate may be decided by less than 1,000 votes. Close congressional, city and legislative races will be decided in Minnesota in the future by Latinos. Latino voters will continue to grow in Minnesota faster than any other group.

One questions for campaigns and political parties: If Latinos make 3% of Minnesota voters did you allocate 3% of your campaign budget to reaching our to Latino voters? Did 3% of you advertising go to Latino media? Was it even 1%?

What do Latino voters want? VOTE FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM NOW! Stop trying to pass immigration laws at a state or local level. Stop immigration raids that divide families. Get our economic house in order and pass laws that will create, not kill high paying jobs. Pass comprehensive health care reform. Make sure Latino kids get the same chance as everyone else to get a quality education. NOW!

Latino voters are watching carefully. We lent the Democrats our vote in 2008. It is up to Democrats now to earn that vote back. It is up to us, Latinos to remind politicians every single day, what it will take to win our vote back.

La Prensa de Minnesota Political Endorsements II

2008-10-29T22:44:00.000-07:00

La Prensa de Minnesota Political Endorsements II

US Senate: Al Franken

For those of us who support comprehensive immigration reform, the most important election in Minnesota this year is probably the election for US Senate. There once was a time when Senator Norm Coleman aggressively courted Latino voters. He won his second term as mayor of St Paul with substantial support from Latinos from the West Side of St Paul. After his election to the US Senate, he formed a Hispanic Advisory committee. He regularly consulted members of the Latino community on important issues and asked our opinion on immigration issues. He told members of the Latino community several times that he would support comprehensive immigration reform.

Senator Coleman then shocked many of us in the Latino community. When faced in the Senate with the most important vote on comprehensive immigration reform last year, Norm Coleman failed to deliver. The President of the United States supported the bill. Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama supported the bill. John McCain co-sponsored the bill. The leadership of both parties in the Senate supported the bill. But when the Senate needed 60 votes to make sure that they could end debate and then move to a vote on the proposed reform, Norm Coleman voted against, effectively killing immigration reform until after the 2008 election.

We invited Senator Coleman last Thursday to join his opponents Al Franken and Dean Barkley in interviews in La Invasora 1400 AM. He was the only one of the three candidates who didn’t respond. Coleman was also the only candidate of the three that ignored questionnaires for La Prensa endorsements.

The editorial committee of La Prensa decided this year that it would not support candidates that didn’t support comprehensive immigration reform. That’s the main reason Norm Coleman won’t get our endorsement this year, an endorsement he could have won two years ago. We also feel Coleman, contrary to his claims of independence, has voted too often with the failed policies of the Bush administration.

The US Senate race this year has only two candidates that we could support. Both Senator Dean Barkley and Al Franken are attractive candidates. Dean Barkley convinced Jesse Ventura to run for governor as an independent in 1998, and was largely responsible for Ventura’s surprise victory that year. When Paul Wellstone tragically died in a plane crash a few weeks before the 2002 election, Governor Jesse Ventura Briefly appointed Dean Barkley to the US Senate while Senator elect Norm Coleman was sworn in.

When we asked Dean Barkley about his position on comprehensive immigration reform, he answered by suggesting that we return to the 1942 to 1964 Bracero program that allowed Mexican workers to get temporary workers programs. He seemed unaware that the Bracero program has been controversial and there have been accusations by some that it exploited Mexican workers.

When asked what he would do with the more than 10 million undocumented immigrants that are currently in the US, he initially said that they should go back home and apply to enter the US Legally. When asked if it would be realistic, and if undocumented immigrants should be allowed to get a temporary work permit, and be allowed to stay in the country while they applied for residency and eventually be allowed a path to citizenship he agreed, as long as they got on the back of the line with those who applied through traditional channels, showed proficiency in English, paid fines and back taxes and been in the country for at least five years. Senator Barkley has good instincts and would make a good senator, but he needs to familiarize himself better with immigration policy.

Barkley told us “If you want to vote for a Senator that will simply say what you want to hear, vote for Norm Coleman or Al Franken. If you want a Senator that will tell you the truth, vote for me. Barkley did not like the 700 Billion financial bailout congress recently approved, and would have voted the against the first three page proposal that was made, but he would’ve voted for the final version to avoid a financial collapse. He said the most important issue facing congress is the mounting federal deficit and debt and that are mortgaging our kids future.

Al Franken is better known for his career as a comedian in Saturday Night Live and for his role as an actor in Hollywood movies. He has also been a political radio talk show host, and has written extensively on politics and policy. Al Franken seemed much more comfortable with the immigration issue in his interview.

Franken supports comprehensive immigration reform and said that it’s impossible to simply deport 12 million people. He said “we need an immigration policy that is humane and that keeps families together. If they¹ve been working, paying taxes and living responsibly and harmoniously in our communities, they should pay a small fine and be put on a path to citizenship. We need to enforce immigration laws at the workplace, in our current system; employers are responsible for circumventing legal guidelines. Workers need documentation that can¹t be forged. “

Al Franken would reduce taxes for middle class families. He opposed the $700 Billion financial rescue. He proposes a stimulus package to re-build roads, bridges, and transit, and create hundreds of thousands of jobs as infrastructure is re-built.

We would’ve liked to endorse Dean Barkley. We admire his true independence. But Al Franken is much better informed on the issues and we trust him more on immigration. Al Franken is better prepared to be a Senator. If a President Obama proposes comprehensive immigration reform in 2009, we trust Al Franken, over Barkley and Coleman, will do the right thing. We endorse Al Franken.

Third congressional District: Ashwin Madia

Western Suburbs Coon Rapids, Maplewood, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, Minnetonka, Edina, Eden Prairie, Bloomington

One of the most interesting congressional elections in Minnesota is the race in the third congressional district. The incumbent moderate Republican Jim Ramstad is retiring from congress this year. It was difficult making a decision on the race for the third congressional district. Neither Democrat Ashwin Madia, Republican Erick Paulsen nor Independent David Dillon answered our questionnaire.

We had to make our decision based on reading their web sites. It is almost impossible to find out what their positions are on immigration. Even with the little information we have, we endorse Ashwin Madia for congress on the Third congressional district. He is an impressive young man who right after graduating from law school volunteered in to join the military and went to fight in Iraq, a very unusual demonstration of sacrifice for his country. He is also the son of immigrants form India.

We feel that an Obama presidency with an increased democratic majority and a large Latino vote turnout in the 2008 election, will greatly improve our chances for passed comprehensive immigration reform in 2009.

Minneapolis Schools: Referendum Yes, Change in How School Board Members get elected No, Yes to Carla Bates, Lydia Lee and Jill Davies for School Board

We have been very tough critics of the Minneapolis School District in the past. It has one of the largest learning gaps of the country between white students and students of color. Many of our kids don’t feel safe in school. MPS has severely under funded bilingual education in the past. MPS badly mismanaged its finances for many years to the point they that the district did not even know how much money it had last year. Teacher morale has been extremely low in MPS over the last few years, and many don’t trust the principals they work for.

The Minneapolis district has lost thousands of kids and laid off many teachers over the past years largely because many African American parents felt that their kids were not being served adequately by the district. Seniority is a more important factor in determining job security and pay, rather than how teachers perform. Discipline is low in many schools with high percentages of poor and minority kids and graduation rates and test scores are much higher for white students than for students of color.

Why would we then support a referendum that increases property taxes in Minneapolis by $203.27 per year for the average home to increase local funding for schools? Because the MPS board of Directors is finally showing some leadership on how to solve many of the problems MPS faces. We supported Pam Costain, Chris Stewart, Tom Madden and T Williams two years ago. We are very proud of that endorsement and glad that they have taken the steps they have taken over the past two years.

The board first did extensive research on what best practices are in schools around the country that successfully educate students of color. It then approved a strategic plan that incorporated what they learned. They have also hired capable leaders to implement these plans. There seems to be a new sense of urgency and accountability in MPS.

There is no doubt in our mind that in order to implement its ambitious but necessary strategic plan, MPS needs more money. The district faces a budget deficit of $30 million. They may have poorly managed its money before, but it has a new capable CFO that we trust has helped improve financial management. MPS has committed to creating an independent outside group to audit and report on the use of referendum dollars. MPS must assure that they continue to demand accountability from district leaders, principals and teachers for results. Until all our kids get equal opportunity to quality education, we are not fulfilling our responsibility to the original goals of our nation.

We say Yes to increasing local property taxes so we can adequately fund our Minneapolis schools. It will cost the average Minneapolis home owner $17 a month or $.56 a day. Less than the price of a Tamal. Making sure our kids get a quality education is worth that investment.

School Board

Our favorite candidate is Cara Bates. She brings in the perspective of an MPS mother who has volunteers thousands of hours to improving public education in Minneapolis for all kids. She scored the highest in our questionnaire and gave the most thoughtful answers. She agrees with the current strategic plan and that we should continue the path of learning from best practices from around the country on how to adequately teach low income students of color.

Bates has a good understanding and is a supporter of bilingual education. She is a strong union supporter, but realizes that our kids will be best educated if the right teachers are teaching our kids. In a district where more and more kids enroll with no English skills she understands that bilingual teachers should not be lost due to rigid seniority rules.

We also endorse Lydia Lee for reelection. We did not endorse Lydia when she first ran four years ago. We have changed our mind. We need continuity to make sure the strategic plan is implemented. Lydia voted for the strategic plan, and has lead the school board well in the past few months. She supports bilingual education. She understands that seniority rules have hindered the school district’s ability in the past to retain many of our ELL teachers when budget cuts force us to lay off significant numbers of staff by seniority number.

We endorse Jill Davis. She is another community activist that will add the perspective of an MPS mother to the board of directors. She supports the MPS strategic plan. She supports and understands bilingual education. We have some problems with her positions on teacher seniority being so key in determining pay and employment security. At the same time we see some hope that the Minneapolis teachers union may be open to reform, and to increased accountability. Jill has credibility with the union and could be key to successful negotiations.

We also like Sharon Henry Blythe. She has been a supporter of the MPS strategic plan and a supporter of reform. If elected she would bring continuity to the board. At the same time this is the second election we have found it impossible to connect with Blythe, and were never able to get her a questionnaire. She seems to be one of the least accessible school board members. We like Sharon, but feel our three endorsed candidates will be more dedicated, and work harder, towards reducing the learning gap in MPS.

Kari Reed also brings good points and qualities to the election. She was the only candidate that was able to communicate with us through email in Spanish. We disagree with her on her opposition to the MPS strategic plan, and in her position to bilingual education. At the same time she has good ideas no how to reduce the learning gap. She also agrees that the current teacher seniority rules are too rigid, and that merit should be rewarded and trump seniority in employment and pay decisions.

We disagree with Doug Mann on several issues. He scored the lowest in our questionnaire. He opposes the MPS strategic plan. We disagree on how to reduce the learning gap. We disagree on seniority. We do agree on bilingual education.

Changing the way school board members are elected.

We oppose this proposal. The current board needs to focus on making sure the MPS strategic plan gets implemented. We will need continuity. We fear a change in how board members are elected would distract the board, and we fear that not all board members would focus on all kids getting a quality education, instead of just the kids of the district they represent.

One more reminder of all of La Prensa de Minnesota endorsements for 2008.

President: Barack Obama

US Senate Al Franken

US Congress 1st congressional District: Tim Walz
3rd congressional district Ashwin Madia
5th congressional district: Keith Ellison
6th congressional district: El Tinklenberg

Minneapolis School District: Carla Bates, Lydia Lee, Jill Davis

Minneapolis School Referendum to increase local funding tax: Yes
Expand school board and elect some members by district: No

La Prensa de Minnesota Endorsements President and Congress

2008-10-24T00:02:00.000-07:00

A Very Important Election for Latinos in Minnesota

The last two years have been devastating for Latinos in Minnesota. Almost three years ago a group of politicians decided to use immigrants as a wedge issue to try to save the Republican Party from the growing unpopularity of the war in Iraq. Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, together with mostly Republican and some Democrat legislators joined in the anti-immigrant bandwagon. Pawlenty even held a press conference announcing anti-immigrant measures, with pictures of Latino gang members in the background. That was the beginning of one of the darkest periods in Minnesota Latino history.

The “we’re not against immigrants we’re against illegals” crowd never made a single proposal to make it easier for immigrants to enter and stay in the US legally. Republicans in congress proposed in 2006, making it a felony to be in the country with out proper documentation, a change from what was an administrative violation. Latinos in Minnesota reacted by joining with supporters in one of the largest marches in Minnesota history. St Paul saw 40,000 marchers, invited by Latino radio stations, churches and community organizations protesting these anti-immigrant measures. They joined close to two million people that marched nationally against these measures.

These marches had mixed results. On one end the anti-immigrant legislation failed to pass. On the other there were also two failed attempts at comprehensive immigration reform that would have increased the number of immigrants allowed to work legally in the US, and also would have allowed millions of undocumented immigrants to pay penalties and apply to stay in the country legally.

During the same period the Bush administration dramatically increased Homeland Security funding for immigration enforcement. This lead to raids all over the country, and in Minnesota that clogged the immigration judicial system, and overcrowded county jails with peaceful, hard working immigrants, instead of rapists, murderers and drug dealers.

To make things worse the sub prime mortgage mess hit the Latino community hard. Fear of immigration raids and thousands of Latinos with increased mortgage payments they could no longer afford, dramatically cut economic activity in Latino communities and businesses. And as if this wasn’t enough, in 2008, increased gas and food prices and fewer jobs made a bad situation intolerable.

We urged Latinos to march in 2006. In 2008 we urge Latinos to vote. The percentage of Latinos who voted in the 2008 Democratic Presidential primaries rose from 8% of total voters in 2004, to 13% in 2008. This in a primary that saw an increase in all groups of voters. Bush got over 40% of the Latino vote and won the 2004 election. Polls now show that over 60% of Latino voters support Obama and fewer than 30% support McCain.

We don’t ask for much. We don’t want handouts. We don’t want special favors. We want to be given a FAIR chance to enter and stay in the United States legally. We want an equal opportunity at quality education. We want the chance to be able to afford quality health care. We want our families to be allowed to stay together. Give us a chance, get out of our way, and we will continue to make contributions towards making the United States the best country in the world to live in. After all we’re the ones that risk our lives to get here.

There are over 80,000 eligible Latino voters in Minnesota. In the past election only slightly 20,000 voted. We will see a dramatic increase in Latino voters in the state in 2008. La Prensa de Minnesota will present this week, and the next, its endorsements for the political offices that we consider the most important to Latinos in Minnesota. This week we make our endorsements for President of the United States, and for three congressional seats. Next week we will endorse for US Senate, one more congressional seat, and for the Minneapolis School Board. We will also make a recommendation on how to vote for the Minneapolis School district referendum on increasing local funding for schools. If there was ever a time for Latinos in Minnesota to vote it is NOW!

US President: Obama for President

During the Republican and Democratic primaries La Prensa de Minnestoa endorsed John McCain and Hilary Clinton. We endorsed them because we felt they offered the best chances in their parties to pass comprehensive immigration reform. For the general election we endorse Barack Obama. It was not easy not to deny endorsement to someone like John McCain who was one of the leaders in congress trying to pass comprehensive immigration reform. He risked his political career to support our community. But in 2008 the best candidate for the Latino community and for the future of the United States is Barack Obama.

The past eight years the federal government sat idle while mortgage bankers preyed on our community with toxic loans that our people would never be able to afford. It sad idle while corrupt Wall Street executives gambled with the prosperity of Main Street. It badly mismanaged a war that unnecessarily killed thousands of our young. It over spent and mortgaged our grand kids future. Health Insurance coverage now seems impossible for most small businesses and even many large ones. Our Latino and African American kids still graduate at much lower rates from High School than white kids. College seems now harder to reach for many of our kids.

Barack Obama is the best candidate to address all these issues. John McCain supported the Bush administration over 90 % if the time during the past eight years. We simply can’t trust him now to do the right thing.

But the issue that separates the Latino community from everyone else is immigration. Over 10 million of our Latino brothers and sisters are undocumented. We feel a Democratic President that has continuously demonstrated his support for comprehensive immigration reform, with an increased Democratic majority, will give us the best chance for badly needed immigration reform. This reform should include an increase in the number of people allowed to enter the US legally. It should also allow undocumented immigrants that are currently in the US, to pay penalties and back taxes and apply to work in the US legally. They should be allowed to wait after those who applied thought traditional means, and eventually be allowed a path to citizenship.

Barack Obama offers Latinos the best clear path to reach the American Dream. A path that has been badly clouded over the past eight years.

Congress

For those of us that want to see comprehensive immigration reform, congressional races will be more important probably than the race for the Presidency. We already had a President and the leadership of both chambers of congress support comprehensive immigration reform. It still failed. Which means we will only endorse candidates for congress that will support reform.

Fifth Congressional district Keith Ellison

Major cities in the district include Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Richfield, Crystal, Robbinsdale, Golden Valley, and Fridley.

First we want to recognize the best friend the Latino community has in congress from Minnesota. We endorsed Keith Ellison in his primary and general election bid two years ago. We endorsed him because he had always been with the Minnesota Latino community, before he ran for congress. In the past two years he has been a constant champion for Latino issues in congress. He won’t be afraid to aggressively advocate for us when we need it the most next year: when comprehensive immigration comes for a vote. We are glad we endorsed him two years ago and to do so again this year, even if he doesn’t need it. He faces mostly token opposition from Republican Barb Davis White and Independent Bill Mcgaughey and is expected to win comfortably his seat, but we still like to recognize our friends.

First Congressional District Tim Waltz

Entire southern border including Worthington, Albert Lea, Austin, Mankato, Owatona, Rochester, Winona

In the First congressional district in Southern Minnesota our choice for congress is Democrat congressman Tim Waltz. Waltz got elected two years ago in a surprise upset over six-term incumbent Gil Gutknecht by a margin of 53% to 47%. Tim Waltz had a career in the military and as a teacher before being elected to congress. Waltz answered a four question questionnaire we sent him. Hs opponent Republican Brian Davis, a medical doctor at the Mayo clinic in Rochester, didn’t bother to respond.

Tim Waltz has said in the past he supports comprehensive immigration reform. Brian Davis’ campaign web site says on immigration: “Those who do not have legal residency status and wish to live and work in the United States should be required to return to their home countries and apply for legal residency. Amnesty is not the answer.” It also says:” To help combat the problem, local law enforcement officials should be empowered to serve as immigration officials as allowed through the 287g clause of the 1996 Immigration and Nationality Act.

Tim Waltz answered on our question on how he would grow jobs and the economy: “For the last eight years, the Bush economy has put CEOs and Big Oil companies first. Enough is enough. I have a plan to rebuild our economy and strengthen the middle-class. I’m fighting to increase oversight of Wall Street, rein in CEO pay and cut taxes for middle-class families. And I want to create new, green-collar jobs that will grow our economy.

I’ve also authored a middle class tax cut that will help middle-class families that are being squeezed by high gas and food prices, skyrocketing health care costs, and college tuition that is increasingly out of reach. My plan would save 61 million taxpayers an average of $750 on their taxes, expand access to the Child Tax Credit, and help offset the rising cost of property taxes.”

Sixth Congressional District El Tinklenberg

Andover, Blaine, Anoka, Woodbury

Michelle Backmann is the current congresswoman in the sixth congressional district. She is probably one of the most anti-immigrant members of congress. She is someone we could rely on voting against comprehensive immigration reform. She recently embarrassed herself on national TV saying that Senator Barck Obama holds Anti-American views.

El Tinkleberg, supports comprehensive immigration reform. He served as governor Jesse Ventura’s commissioner of transportation, has not only the support of the Democratic Party, but also of the Independence Party. He is the best choice for congress in the sixth congressional district.

2008-02-19T03:05:00.000-08:00

La Prensa de Minnesota Posted on 01-29-2008
La Prensa de Minnesota endorses Hillary Clinton for the DFL Caucuses and John McCain for the Republican Caucuses

La Prensa Editorial Board alberto@lcnmedia.com; marco@lcnmedia.com; mario@lcnmedia.com

Recent national polling of Latinos shows that the issues that are the most important to Latinos this year are passing comprehensive immigration reform, the economy, ending the Iraq war, education and health care reform. This year we have two excellent front runners for President of the United States in the Democratic Party: Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Both candidates voted for comprehensive immigration Reform in 2007 and have committed to immediately push hard for immigration reform once they get elected. Both candidates have plans to increase the number of people covered by health insurance. Both candidates have specific plans to improve the economy and both want to reduce the learning gap between minorities and white students. Both candidates would make history, if elected, by being the first woman or the first African American to be elected to the White House.

We would have preferred to Endorse Bill Richardson for President. Richardson was the most qualified Democratic candidate. He had the best positions of any candidate on issues that affect Latinos, and would have been the first Latino President. But this was not his year. We think that of the remaining candidates, Hillary Clinton has the most experience and has the best chance to implement policies that will benefit Latinos. She has been a US Senator representing New York since 2001, and not only served eight years as First Lady in the White House and the Arkansas governor’s mansion, but she was one of Bill Clinton’s most trusted advisors. During the Bill Clinton presidency the United States showed impressive economic growth. With an economy that threatens to fall into a recession in 2008, we will need a President that knows how to effectively manage the situation and get us back in the growing path. We also need a President with international and diplomatic experience that will help reduce the anti-American sentiment that has dangerously spread around the world during the eight years of the Bush administration.
Hillary Clinton has been getting a larger grass roots support from Latinos nationally because they see the Clintons as friends of the Latino community and they see her as much more likely to be able to implement the changes our community needs. We already saw in 2007 a President that favored an immigration reform, a majority of Democrats and some Republicans that supported comprehensive immigration reform and the bill still failed to even make it to the floor. As Latinos we are not in a position where we can afford in-job training. Approving immigration reform will require experience and a track record in passing tough legislation. We feel Hilary Clinton as our next president will represent our interests better than anyone else. John Edwards also supports issues that are important to Latinos, but his campaign has not shown to be as viable and we feel Obama and Clinton would be a stronger choice than Edwards.

For the Republican Caucuses we endorse John McCain. McCain risked his campaign for President by standing up for immigrants so we will stand by him today. He was co-sponsor of the McCain-Kennedy immigration reform bill. He voted for comprehensive immigration reform even at the risk of loosing his chances to be President. He is a very independent voice that is willing to split with the Republican Party and stand up for his principles. He has refused to compete against other Republican candidates on who can sound the most anti-immigrant and the most offensive against Latinos. He has the best resume and experience of any candidate for President. He showed in New Hampshire and South Carolina that the anti-immigrant message is not a winning issue even among Republicans. No other Republican even comes close.
Next Fall we will have the opportunity to endorse one candidate for President. Today we get to endorse two dear friends of the Latino community.

2008-01-09T08:55:00.000-08:00

It really seems that immigration is an overblown issue that doesn't seem to be doing much to help Republicans. Just like Republicans went to attack gays when they were in trouble before, they are now attacking immigrants, or "illegal aliens" when in trouble.

The truth is they used this issue during the 2006 congressional elections and it didn't do anything for them. Out anti-immigranting (new word) everybody hasn't done anything for Mitt Romney in Iowa or New Hampshire. Quite the opposite. McCain was written off mainly because of his support of comprehensive immigration reform last summer and won yesterday. Obama supported licences to undocumented immigrants in New York after Hillary flipped flopped on the issue, and he won Iowa.

Mike Hatch tried to out anti-immigrant Tim Pawlenty during the campaign for governor and it didn't do anything for him.

Democrats need to loose fear of this issue. As long as they talk tough on the border, support some sort of legalization with penalties for the 15 million undocumented in the US, for immigrants that have paid their taxes, haven't broken any other laws, learn English, they are with the majority of Democrats, Independents and Republicans.

There is a very, very loud minority that will make us believe with the help of Lou Dobbs that the American people are anti-immigrant and that this is a winning issue for Republicans. The facts prove them wrong. The anti-immigrant rhetoric will only secure that Republicans loose the Latino vote and therefore the White House for the next generation.

Hope for 2008

2007-12-27T11:30:00.000-08:00

Looking ahead to 2008 I hope for a political climate that will be friendlier to Latinos and immigrants than we have seen in the past two years. I hope that a Democratic President will be elected that will lead congress into comprehensive immigration reform. I hope that using anti-immigrant rhetoric will backfire for politicians and be looked at as negatively as the pro-segregationist anti-civil rights rhetoric that was used in the 60's.

I hope for an economy that will recover from higher gas and food prices, the real estate-sub prime crash, and immigrant bashing. I hope that if Democrats win they will still pursue economic policies that will be pro-economic growth and pro-entrepreneur. I hope that Democrats will not raise taxes on those that can afford it the least and over regulate our economy into an even worst recession. I hope for economic policies that will encourage the innovation and wealth creation that the current technological revolution is allowing. I hope for trade and immigration policies that will allow people to develop fully wherever they choose to live.

I hope that Lou Dobbs will see the biggest ratings drop in television history and that his anti-immigrant anti-trade dribble will be discredited once more. That someone will debate Lou Dobbs in 2008 the way Al Gore debated against Ross Perot during in 1993 and make him look like as much of a fool.

I hope that Democrats will finally pass comprehensive health care reform that will guarantee that every resident of the United States has affordable health Insurance. I hope that finally democrats will realize that more school choice, less bureaucracy, more school leader and teacher accountability and training, higher expectations on our kids, longer school days and school years, and more school funding tied to accountability will lead to reduce the racial learning gap. That our political leaders will truly believe that all kids can learn regardless of race or who their parents are.

I hope our political leaders will finally support policies that will protect our environment, protect our natural resources, conserve energy, and make countries energy independent.

I hope that our political leaders will finally end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I hope that at the same time Fascists and religious extremists won't take over the Middle East. That we will keep our young soldiers from harms way, while at the same time protect the lives of millions Muslims in the Middle East. That we keep Israel safe from harm and free, while at the same time respect the rights of millions of Palestinian innocent people.

I hope that the Social Democrat governments of Chile, Brazil, Peru, Guatemala, Argentina, Uruguay, finally produce economic growth that the majority of the people in their countries will benefit from, reform schools and health care, and show Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Bolivia that their extremist Bolivarian revolution will only lead to more poverty and misery. That hope and not despair will rain in Latin America.

I hope that voters will reject political extremists and finally the sensible silent middle will be heard.

I hope for a better year in 2008. And that 2007 remains a far, distant, bad memory.

Anti-business Republicans

2007-12-09T01:53:00.000-08:00

It's amazing to see the "bro-business" conservative republicans bashing businesses for hiring undocumented workers. Not so pro-business now huh?

Obviously these immigrant bashers have never run a payroll or hired anyone in their lives. I've never met an employer, and I know a lot of employers, who hires undocumented workers knowingly. We are supposed by law to check documentation, and can be sued for discrimination for asking any more questions. Dammed if you do, dammed if you don't. Kind of like undocumented immigrant hiring Mitt Romney.

Just Like happened to Swift Packing in Worthington. They get fined $200,000 by the federal government for discrimination for asking their employees too many questions about immigration status. Then they get raided by the federal government and have over 2,000 of their employees arrested and their plant closed for days. And they were in the voluntary electronic program to check social security numbers.

We can only check papers, and put them in a file. Now the anti-regulation anti taxes hypocrite conservatives want to turn employers into immigration officers and over burden them with more regulation. As the head of Homeland Security recently said "Yes we can pay non-immigrants enough money so they will want to pick up lettuce in the fields, as long as we're all willing to pay $100 for a head of lettuce"

The only way to end illigal immigration is to pass comprehensive immigration reform and allow people to have a real chance to become legal immigrants.

Republicans must be real desperate. Immigration was never an issue in Minnesota before December 2005, when Pawlenty made it an issue. Now the republicans have nothing else to run on so they desperately cling to this issue. Back in the eighties when Ronald Reagan ran the Republican party they won by telling us what they were for. Now Republicans think they can only win by telling us what they are against: Gays and lesbians, immigrants, and now employers. No wonder Republican candidates are seriously lagging democrats in raising money.

Dick day and his kind will be treated by history as the segregationists in the south in the sixties. But we'll have to put up with them for a while longer. Specially now that immigrant bashing is turning to be such a cottage industry for anti-immigrant groups and anti-immigrant CNN.

I sat the other day with a Latino friend of mine who is more conservative than Ronald Reagan and Newt Ginrich combined. He is a very successful businessman He has never, ever voted for anyone other than Republicans. We both voted for Bush. We sat disgusted with the last Republican debate and seeing Gulianni and Romney out Trancedo each other. It was pathetic. The only hint of decency in that debate came from McCain. We both pledged to vote for, campaign for and raise money for only Democrats in the next election. Time to raise a lot of money for Rep Walz. Day will loose and will be forgotten into history with his segragationist brothers and sisters from the sixties.

Reducing the racial learning gap

2007-12-09T01:46:00.000-08:00

I think the Star Tribune was right on in its editorial and the MPS Board has shown courage and real leadership in perusing interview and select.

Interview and select will not by itself reduce the learning gap or solve the financial and enrollment problems the district faces. But it is one important component of several others that are necessary to get MPS back on the road to recovery. I haven't seen any direct evidence that interview and select reduces by itself the learning gap. I've heard from members of the Minneapolis teachers union that it doesn't and that there is no evidence that it does. I have no reason to doubt them. Maybe someone better informed than me can help us with better data. But I can see how it can help improve student retention in the district and building community trust. I've heard from many parents upset when some of their favorite MPS teachers were replaced by teachers just because of seniority after layoffs. One way to retain students and the trust of parents is if the teachers they are happy with are kept in their kids schools.

The Minneapolis school board will face on Tuesday one of the most important votes it has faced in many years. It will vote on a proposed strategicplan that the board has been working on with Mckinsey for several months. The preparation of this plan has included intense listening and extensive research of best practices that have been observed in schools around the country that have been successful in reducing the racial achievement gap.

When we look at successful schools around the country in reducing the racial learning gap we see several common themes:We see well trained and very strong school principals. We see longer school days and school years. We see strong teacher training on how to educate at risk kids of color. We see high expectations for students. We see principals that set clear expectations to their teachers and who have the power to hire and fire the as they see necessary to achieve school goals. We see schools that demand, expect and enforce high levels of discipline from their students. These schools also find ways to make school enjoyable to teachers and students. They usually involve a cooperative rather than confrontative relationship between principals and teachers.

The strategic plan that the board will vote for on Tuesday addresses many of these issues. None of the factors listed above will reduce the learning gap by itself. It will be a combination of ALL these factors. Probably the most significant recommendation of the strategic plan and the one that will have the biggest impact in reducing the learning gap is:

"Restart or replace the lowest-performing 25 percent of Minneapolis public schools to dramatically improve their performance by 2012. All schools in this segment would be strengthened regardless of type. Each would require a different strategy, and an Office of New Schools would be created to launch sponsored charters, self-governed schools, and internal restart models. Restarted schools may include enhancements such as all-day Kindergarten, pre-K program or partnership, longer school day or year and/or more staffing. In addition, the highest-performing schools would be given more autonomy to innovate in order to further improve their achievement."

It has been shown that new schools are more effective at making the necessary changes than existing schools. If this recommendation is not approved I have serious doubts that the rest of the plan will be effective. It would be great for MPS to have schools that will attract parents back to MPS rather than feeling they have to go to independent charters or other school districts. Not only does MPS need the per pupil funding but Minneapolis needs to keep its tax base. The office of new schools would also make sure effective innovation is not trampled by bureaucracy.

The board is looking from teachers for some flexibility in allowing principals to hire and fire teachers based on the school needs and not just seniority. This would not be an issue if many of MPS students weren't leaving the district and teachers were not being laid off. But as schools close and less teachers are needed, many staffing decisions of teachers are not based on their talents, effectiveness, or how they fit the schools they teach at. They are decided by seniority. This is what the board is trying to do. It also seeks more flexibility from the union so that schools that require longer school days (not all MPs schools need this) that teachers will be allowed to work the necessary hours.

The Minneapolis teachers union MFT has to be commended for presenting a plan to improve the education of all our kids. They have demonstrated this is an important issue to them. Unfortunately their plan falls short. Its proposal on reducing class size that has not been proven to have a big enough effect in reducing the learning gap and the current MPS budget shortfalls would not allow it. I do agree with their recommendations of increasing funding of early childhood education. This would have a significant effect on achievement. I also support their proposal to bring more decision making to the school level and that will show a cooperative decision making model between staff and management. They also propose more cooperation between other government agencies that will intervene with the lives of students at risk. Good recommendations but the School board plan is more complete and will have a bigger impact in reducing the gap and retaining students in MPS.I see and understand the concern from teachers about principal quality.

It needs to be part of the plan that good principals are hired and rewarded when succesful and fired when not. They should receive effective training. Principals have a very very tough job, and they need to be equiped with the necessary skills and tools to be succesful.I urge the board to aprove THE ENTIRE strategic plan on Tuesday and then do ALL they need to to make sure it is implemented.

Venezuelan ambassador in Minnesota

2007-09-30T20:09:00.000-07:00

Minnesota Lulac List serve

What is happening in Latin America is very important to Latinos in the US and what happens in Venezuela is increasingly important to all of us in the US, not just Latinos.

I share Francisco's passion for improving the living conditions for people in Puerto Rico, where I'm from, and the rest of Latino America. I've traveled in the last few years, to Peru, El Salvador, Mexico, Belice, Argentina and Puerto Rico, and have been very disturbed by US policy towards Latino America. In my traveling I encounter an anti-Americanism and a level of crime and violence that seem to be deteriorating every day. And although many countries in Latin America seem to be improving their macro-economic statistics, the great majority in Latin Americans live in extreme poverty, we still see extreme inequality and most people who live in countries with economic growth are not seeing an improvement in their own standard of living. In my recent trip to El Salvador I saw the average monthly wage at $250 a month, and the average monthly needed household budget closer to $700 a month. I saw the same in Peru.

Chavez is a result of years of neglect by the Venezuelan oligarchy in solving the problems of the poor. It has failed to invest in schools, health care, infrastructure and other programs that could improve the standard of living of most Latin Americans. An incestuous relationship between an elite that control business monopolies and that kept corrupt governments in power, and corrupt governments that keep inefficient business monopolies in business have prevented the poor from starting and growing their own businesses, creating jobs and improving wages for most. This corrupt relationship between business elites and governments in Latin America, have created the horrible inequality we see today since days of the Spanish conquest.

It is this corruption and neglect of the poor that created Chavez. Yet history proves over and over again that Chavez strategy for fighting poverty and improving the conditions for most Venezuelans will fail miserably. Specially for the poor and most vulnerable. Nationalizing industry, the extreme dependency on oil prices that will eventually fall, closing media, intimidating political opposition and following an economy where the government controls and dictates everything, failed in Nicaragua in the eighties and in Cuba in the past fifty years. It will also fail in Bolivia where the Cocaleros and unions keep violently protesting against Morales, just like they did when the oligarchy was in power.

Yes Cubans have a better health care system and educational system than many in Latin America. Yes the US embargo of Cuba is ridiculous and outdated and does a lot to damage Cubas poor. But most Cubans are poor with no chance of ever getting out of poverty because of an outdated and inefficient government controled economy. They lack independent media, elections and human rights the same way Chileans did under Pinochet. Most Cubans that can leave Cuba, leave, just like our Mexican brothers and sisters. Not the rich ones, since the only rich in Cuba are in the government. Poor Cubans leave. The big difference is poor Mexicans are allowed to leave Mexico. Poor Cubans are not. They have no right to start a business, grow it and no incentive to create and innovate.

Of course the right wing governments of Nicaragua after the first Sandinista failure, and in other Latin American countries have failed miserably also. That's why the Sandinistas and Daniel Ortega are in Power again.

Chavez might have the best of intentions. He was democratically elected in clean and fair elections. But lets remember that the first time he tried to get into power was through an attempted bloody military coup. And his obsession with imitating Cuba, befriending Iran, attempting to shut off opposition, nationalize the economy, attempting to get himself elected to a twenty year term, and his lack of concrete results are going to destroy Venezuela. His imperialistic efforts to control other Latin American countries are also disturbing.

I have much more faith in the Social Democrat Presidents Alan Garcia of Peru, Michelle Bachelet of Chile and Lula da Silva of Brazil to make the changes needed in Latin America. Latin America needs low inflation, foreign investment, economic growth, international free and fair trade and fiscal stability to reduce poverty. But that's not enough. It needs and educational system that allows for equal opportunity for everyone, regardless of economic status or race. It needs good health care for all. It needs anti-monopolistic policies. It needs a system that will allow Latin American entrepreneurship to flourish. It needs labor rights and free independent unions that have the ability to organize. It needs governments that will protect the environment.

It needs a United States government that will focus in Latin America as much as it focuses in the middle East. The Us needs to encourage free and fair trade, labor rights and enviromental standards need to be protected. It needs to invest in organizations that will help improve the lives of most Latin Americans. The Us needs to stop an international foreign policy creates more anti-americanism

The ultimate solution to the immigration problem in the US is the improvement of peoples lives in Latin America.

Democrats, Labor Unions, and the Left Betray the Immigrants they Claim to Support

2007-09-30T19:39:00.000-07:00

This editorial was published in La Prensa de Minnesota June 28th, 2007

Democrats, Labor Unions, and the Left Betray the Immigrants they Claim to Support

A month ago I was very optimistic about the prospects of comprehensive immigration reform. Republican and Democratic leaders in the US Senate had reached an agreement that would’ve allowed millions of undocumented immigrants currently in the country to gain legal status to stay in the United States. It would have also increased the number of immigrants that could enter the country legally to work. President Bush supported the bill. It was an imperfect bill. It had many provisions that could have been improved. But it was most likely the only chance we would have in years to give millions the chance to stay legally in the Unites States and get some deserved peace of mind.

Then to my surprise I saw all hope of reform quickly vanish. Suddenly the hopes and dreams of millions of hard working immigrants instantly disappeared. The sad thing was that those hopes were dashed by the people we would have least expected it from: Democrats, Latino organizations, most Labor Unions and many in the political left.

What happened? The bill was killed weeks ago, lacking the necessary votes on a procedural move to end debate on the bill and then vote on it. The US Senate then tried to revive the bill. It was too little too late. What happened was that anti-immigrant forces and right wing Republicans organized like never before, while wimpy democrats, the political left and pro-immigrant forces couldn’t organize effectively and failed to respond with a decisive united voice.

Don’t confuse my comments with praise for Republicans. Although I believe President Bush and the Republican leadership are pro-immigrant, the Republican Party appears to have been hijacked by a racist, xenophobic minority led by right wing radio talk show hosts. The party of Ronald Reagan has been hijacked by Pat Buchanan. The folks that always oppose and never propose. They claim to be for the rule of law, national security and patriotism while in reality they are motivated by fear of the Latinoization of America and the fear of “brown people”.

Even conservative Republican Latina writer Linda Chavez recently accused many of the leaders of the anti-immigrant forces as being motivated by racism and fear of brown people. The right wing talk show hosts quickly united to attack Chavez’s comments. They were happy with her when she opposed affirmative action and bilingual education. But suddenly when she confronted the right wings xenophobic true colors, they turned on her like a wild pack on a pray.

But my biggest disappointment though is with the left, most labor unions and several Latino organizations. They opposed the Senate bill because their comfortable jobs and their US Passports isolated them from an ability to understand the needs and wants of the people they claim to represent. They might’ve had the best of intentions, but they simply didn’t get it.

Undocumented immigrants are rarely polled, rarely interviewed, or don’t appear on anti-immigrant CNN or Fox News “news shows”. They clean our toilets, repair our roofs, take care of our children, prepare our food or program the software we use. They keep the price of our groceries low and help increase the price of our homes. They live with the constant daily fear that the cop in the stop light behind them might be the one that deports them back to the hunger, poverty, drug war violence, and the corruption they escaped from. They work, pay taxes, behave well and add to the success of America. They are the only source of financial support for millions of relatives back home. They wanted legal status now.

Yes, I oppose guest worker programs that would deny US Citizen to immigrants. I oppose proposals that might divide families. I oppose an immigration system that limits entrepreneurship and job creation by immigrants by limiting them to be employees. I oppose proposals by Senator Coleman that would turn local law enforcement officers into federal immigration agents.

But for some reason many in the left seem to be living under the unrealistic fantasy that if the Senate bill was defeated that magically congress would come up with a “good bill”. Yes and I have some land in Iraq I’d like to sell them. Democrats claim that if we give them a Democratic President then they will deliver. But wasn’t legal immigration reduced under the last Democratic President? This was the best bill we were going to get. Now we’re left with increased immigration enforcement. More chaos. More Fear. More broken borders. More dead immigrants in southern desserts. Confused employers who will be fined if they ask Latinos too many questions and raided if they don’t ask enough.

Fortunately some do get it. SEIU The union that represents thousands of Latino Janitors and service employees and is an example of an organization that listens to their members. One of the fastest growing unions in the United States, SEIU risked conflict within the labor movement, listened to their members and supported the Senate bill even if they saw problems with it. The National Council of La Raza pleaded with lawmakers to keep the legislation alive while its lobbyists sought changes. Senator Klobuchar supported immigration reform while Senator Norm Coleman betrayed promises he had made to support reform.

Immigrants didn’t need a perfect bill. They needed peace of mind. Their families need their financial support. The US economy needs their labor and entrepreneurship. They’ll take the jobs nobody else wants. They would’ve paid the fees. They would’ve made the sacrifices. Now they will just continue to live in the shadows, and live in fear.

Alberto Monserrate is co-founder, President and CEO of Latino Communications Network, a Minnesota print and broadcasting Latino Media Company that publishes the bilingual Latino newspaper La Prensa de Minnesota, and operates 24 hour Spanish Radio Station La Invasora AM 1400 KMNV

The changing face of Minneapolis elected officials

2006-09-13T09:42:00.000-07:00

The city of Minneapolis is seeing a few new faces in its political landscape. New elected officials of color in their thirties and forties that appeal across racial and ethnic lines were elected in 2006. Keith Ellison a Muslim African American won comfortably the Democratic primary for congress from the 5th congressional District. This is a district that includes the city of Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs. During his election he appealed to voters that extended beyond minority community interests. He put a coalition together of Somali, Latino and other immigrants, African Americans, environmental groups, anti-war immigrants, Labor activists, GLBT activists, progressives and others that seem to make the new winning coalition in Minneapolis. A very prominent union helping get Ellison elected was SEIU which locally has a lot of immigrant members.

Patricia Torres Ray was elected in South Minneapolis as State Senator. She is originally an immigrant from Columbia, and the first Latina to ever get elected to the Minnesota State Senate. Again a coalition of Labor activists again SEIU very active in her campaign, environmentalists, anti-war activists, immigrants, GLBT activists, and progressives provided her winning coalition for the important DFL endorsement.

Chris Stewart was elected to the Minneapolis School Board in 2006. He was one of the top vote getters at the Minneapolis DFL convention. Again he had to appeal across racial lines to get elected.

These elected officials that belong to the Gen X or the very end of the baby boomer generation do not represent minority districts. They had to appeal to white voters, who were a majority of their voters in their election.

All three have become influential since their elections. Is this a trend to come in Minneapolis? As baby boomer politicians retire in the next few years, will we see more elected officials of color in Minneapolis that cut across racial lines and become more pragmatic in solving our cities problems? Will we see new winning coalitions in Minneapolis? Time will tell

September 4th immigration marches

2006-09-04T13:46:00.000-07:00

I've been wondering all day about the strategy of immigration rights marches the weekend of Labor day 2006. It seems these marches were not very big, and that the timing for them was not the best.

Not too many people will notice them. Those of us that believe in real immigration reform, should focus on getting Latinos to vote in this years election, and make sure that Latinos are a factor in changing the congressional majority from Republicans to Democrats. Only then we will have real political influence over congress. Republicans have had plenty of chances to get real immigration reform and have not delivered.

President George Bush supported the Senate Judiciary committee bill, which seemed like a good compromise. But he didn't push the US House hard enough to implement it.

I say lets try our best to get Latinos to vote, and change congressional majority to Democrats and then pressure Democrats to pass the US Senate immigration reform bill. If they don't deliver there will be plenty of time then for huge marches.